Software Quality Assurance Engineer

About Astro Digital

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions for several business applications, including earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Astro Digital is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado with roughly 85 employees and infrastructure around the globe.

Position Summary

We are seeking a mid-level Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Engineer to support the verification, validation, and deployment of flight software on engineering and flight hardware platforms.

In this role, you will be responsible for the loading, configuration, and validation of flight software, as well as help with the development and execution of functional, regression, and acceptance tests. You will work closely with software, systems, and Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) teams to ensure flight software meets mission requirements and performs reliably in integrated environments.

This position requires strong attention to detail, disciplined test execution, and the ability to operate effectively within a highly integrated aerospace development lifecycle. This is a hands-on role and requires frequent on-site availability, either at our Littleton, CO or San Jose, CA facility. A hybrid work location is possible for the right candidate.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Load and configure flight software builds on engineering units, flight hardware, and integration testbeds
• Configure and verify software parameters on flight hardware to support system bring-up, testing, and mission readiness
• Develop, document, and execute functional, regression, and acceptance tests for flight software
• Perform end-to-end validation of flight software behavior on integrated hardware systems
• Collaborate closely with software, systems, and AI&T teams during system integration, test campaigns, and pre-flight activities
• Maintain configuration control and traceability of software versions and test artifacts
• Identify, document, and track software defects and anomalies, supporting root-cause analysis
• Verify compliance of flight software with requirements, interfaces, and mission constraints
• Generate clear test reports and communicate software readiness, quality status, and risks

Minimum Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in software quality assurance, test engineering, or embedded systems testing
• Hands-on experience with flight software or embedded software deployed on hardware platforms
• Experience developing and executing functional, regression, and acceptance tests
• Proficiency with Git for version control and collaboration
• Programming/scripting experience in Python
• Strong debugging skills across software-hardware interfaces
• Familiarity with test documentation, defect tracking, and software lifecycle processes
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment with software, systems, and AI&T teams
• Experience in automated test development or CI/CD validation pipelines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft systems, avionics, or aerospace flight software
• Experience supporting systems engineering and AI&T activities
• Experience with C/C++
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing or simulation environments
• Experience with embedded Linux or RTOS-based systems
• Knowledge of communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, CAN)

Pay Transparency

Astro Digital employees are provided with a comprehensive benefits package that includes company stock options, healthcare, 401k retirement plan, and PTO. The range of possible compensation for this role is $110k-$150k annually, depending on candidate experience, alignment, and location.

Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 20 Lbs. Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching may be required.

Export Statement

This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 22 CFR §120.15 and 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.